Date:04/02/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020406540400.htm

Move to prune PACS opposed

HYDERABAD: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has opposed any move to prune the number of Primary Agriculture Cooperative Societies (PACS).

The CPI (M) polit bureau member, Koratala Satyanarayana, and the State secretariat member, Y. Venkateswara Rao, in a memorandum to the Minister for Cooperation, Kanna Laxminarayana, put forward 15 suggestions for reorganisation of the cooperative societies.

They said the Government was planning to abolish 3,000 of the 4,610 existing societies. They pointed out that these societies were in backward areas and any move to close them down would affect farmers.

Decision on FDI flayed

HYDERABAD: The All-India Trade Union Congress has opposed the decision of the UPA Government to hike the FDI in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) from 49 to 74 per cent.

In a statement here on Thursday, the AITUC general secretary, P. J. Chandrasekhara Rao, said it was against the spirit of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP).

The NDA Government did not implement the measure keeping in view the advise of central intelligence sources, he said. "But, it is unfortunate that the UPA Government, which has promised to review the `anti-people' measures of the NDA Government has taken the advise of the World Bank and the IMF and implementing the same policies." He asked the Government to revise its decision.

He hailed the decision to increase the EPF rate to 9.5 per cent.

Adventure awards

HYDERABAD: The Sports Authority of Andhra Pradesh has invited applications for the `Tenzing Norgay National Adventure Awards for 2003 and 2004' from the deserving persons.

According to a release, applications for the awards, instituted by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, should be submitted by candidates along with their bio-data and a brief write-up in the prescribed pro forma with the achievements recorded by them during the last three years, including those recorded up to December 31, 2004. The nominations of the physically challenged persons with achievements in adventure activities could also be sent. The last date for submitting applications is April 30.

Students stage protest

WARANGAL: Hundreds of schoolchildren staged a dharna on the premises of Zilla Parishad office protesting against poor facilities in schools at Basithnagar and Machili Bazar.

The children tried to barge into the meeting hall where the general body meeting was on.

Sensing trouble, the Social Welfare Minister, D.S. Redya Naik, and the district Collector, N. Siva Sankar, came out of the hall and take the children outside where student leaders narrated the problems to the Minister. The Minister assured them of visiting schools after the meeting.

Meanwhile, the Collector directed the Mandal Revenue Officer, Chandrasekhar, to go to the schools and take stock of the situation.

Ex-Minister's handbag stolen

CUDDAPAH: The former minister, S. Saraswathi, complained to the Mydukur police that her handbag was stolen from the Vijayawada-bound RTC bus at Mydukur last night.

Ms. Saraswathi told the police that the bag contained Rs. 15,000, a gold chain of two tolas and a cell phone.

Back to jail from hospital

HYDERABAD: The former minister, Ramasubba Reddy, who was recently shifted to NIMS from Cherlapalli jail, was taken back to the prison on Wednesday night after the doctors discharged him.

Reddy was lodged in the jail after he was convicted in a double murder case.

According to the hospital's Medical Superintendent, Indira Venkataratnam, he was discharged after he was found to be perfectly alright. She said that he was evaluated for chest and back pain and all the reports were normal.

The Cherlapalli Jail Superintendent, Chandrashekhar, denied the charge that the prison officials had forcibly brought him back. He said the NIMS authorities had informed him that they would be discharging him and accordingly an escort and a vehicle was sent to the hospital.

The wife of the former minister had alleged that he was discharged from the hospital due to political pressure.

ICDS office raided

Kakinada: Vigilance and enforcement officials, led by B.V. Ramanakumar, SP, conducted raids on the ICDS Project Director's office here on Thursday and seized vital records pertaining to the purchase of provisions and stationery for the special nutrition programme.

The raids were conducted following complaints of large-scale irregularities in finalisation of tenders on purchases made from the local superbazaar.

According to sources, tenders had been finalised without the knowledge of the Joint Collector who is the chairman of the purchases committee.

TRS hails steps for ST welfare

HYDERABAD: Three TRS MPs on Thursday thanked the Government for reacting favourably to the representation made by them for 7 per cent budgetary allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Tribes from 2005-06.

In a statement, the MPs -- D. Ravinder Naik, B. Vinod Kumar and T. Madhusudhan Reddy -- said that they had earlier submitted representations to the Governor, Sushil Kumar Shinde, and the Chief Secretary, Mohan Kanda, seeking to redress the injustice to tribals in successive budgets.

Mr. Naik, in a memorandum sent from Delhi to the Governor, the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and the Chief Secretary, urged them to provide the budget to the districts, including ZP funds on the basis of ST population, ensure effective functioning of ITDAs, re-organisation of Girijan Cooperative Corporation and give the status of gram panchayats to tribal tandas and hamlets.

Farmer ends life

CUDDAPAH: A 45-year-old farmer, Uthukuri Pedda Subbaiah, allegedly committed suicide by consuming pesticide at Chinthalapalle village in Kalasapadu mandal on Wednesday night.

Farmers, who found Subbaiah in an unconscious state in his fields, took him to hospital at Porumamilla where he died.

He took the extreme step as bank officials mounted pressure on him to repay the loan, according to his wife, Lakshmamma.

Jharkhand order for HAL

HYDERABAD: The Jharkhand Government has placed an order on the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) for supply of two advanced light helicopters-Dhruv for use by the police and VIP transportation.

The indigenously-developed Dhruv is a state-of-the-art all weather helicopter and incorporates advanced avionics, digital engine control, digital autopilot and redundancy in all major systems to ensure highly reliable and safe operations, according to a release from HAL.

The helicopter covers comprehensively "the entire spectrum of heliservices" required for civil administration.

Dry weather prevails

Hyderabad: Weather was dry in the State on Thursday except light rain at Ongole.

The minimum temperature rose at a few places in coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema and they changed a little in Telangana.

The lowest night temperature of the State fell to 10 degree Celsius for the day and it was recorded by Adilabad.

Forecast for Friday: Mainly sunny weather likely in the State.

Training programme

NELLORE: A training programme for candidates interested in setting up food processing units is planned by the Andhra Pradesh Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (APITCO), at Nellore, on February 9. Interviews for the training programme sponsored by the Union Ministry of Food Processing, are to be held at District Industries Centre (DIC), Nellore, on February 7, at 10 a.m.

Tsunami counselling centre

NELLORE: A `Tsunami counselling and guidance centre' started functioning at Nellore on Thursday, under the auspices of Nehru Yuv Kendra.

Apart from monitoring the flow of aid to victims, the centre aims at counselling, besides providing rehabilitation through proper training.

Red sander

logs seized

CUDDAPAH: Forest officials seized 56 red sander logs worth Rs. 70,000 piled up near Neelapuram in Duvvur mandal.

The Forest Range Officer, Somasekhar, and officials made the seizure of the contraband hidden in bushes near Mondikatta well near Neelapuram.

`Vidya sadassulu'

CHITTOOR: The United Teachers Federation 32nd State Council Vidya sadassulu will be held on February 11, 12 and 13 at S.V. High School Tirupati, according to G. Rama Moorthy, its district president, in a press release on Thursday.

NCC cadets

donate blood

KURNOOL: Eighteen NCC cadets donated blood in connection with the Combined Annual Training Programme at Vengannabavi here on Thursday. The Commanding Officer, R.K. Behera, the district secretary of Red Cross Society, K.G. Govinda Reddy, and others were present.

Also, 50 staff members of Adult Education department, led by the Deputy Director, Balarami Reddy, donated blood.

Tyagi resents

officer's decision

KURNOOl: The vice-president of the Andhra Pradesh Freedom Fighters Association, Gurram Venkat Reddy, resented the decision of the Mandal Revenue Officer at Kallur for informing him that no land was available for assignment of house-site to him in the city.

In a statement, he said the Government had issued GO advising the district administration to provide house-sites to freedom fighters.

Invoking the GO, Mr. Reddy applied for land in Kallur township and identified a particular piece of land. Mr. Reddy said the MRO had written to him that the land identified by him, which was close to the collectorate was needed for government for future use but also informed him no land was available in Kallur township limits.